Blue Peter Awards

The Blue Peter Book Awards are a series of literary prizes for children's literature awarded annually by the BBC television programme Blue Peter, and inaugurated in 2000. An overall award, The Blue Peter Book of the Year, is selected from the winners of three categories: "The Book I Couldn't Put Down", "The Best Book with Facts", and "The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud".:
The awards are administered by Booktrust.

Shadow Forest by author Matt Haig has been named book of the year at the Blue Peter Book Awards.

5th March, 2009- The dark and grisly tale about two orphans and a forest full of one-eyed trolls was chosen as the winner by a panel of eight child judges.Haig received his award in a special episode of the BBC children's TV show, on Wednesday.Shadow Forest also won the Book I Couldn't Put Down category. Haig said he was "over-the-moon".

The book beat winners from two other categories to win the overall award.

They were Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear- by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman (Egmont), in the Most Fun Story with Pictures category; and Horrible Geography Handbooks: Planet in Peril- by Anita Ganeri, illustrated by Mike Phillips (Scholastic) , in the Best Book with Facts category.

Winner - Shadow Forest - by Matt Haig (Corgi)Samuel Blink is the hero of this story, but he doesn't know it yet. Rightnow, he and his sister Martha are in the back of his parents car. He has no idea a giant log is about to fall from the sky and change his life forever. He doesn't know that he and Martha will be forced to move to Norway and eat their Aunt Eda's smelly brown cheese. He hasn't the slightest clue Martha will disappear into Shadow Forest. A forest full of one-eyed trolls, the sinister huldre-folk, deadly Truth Pixies and a witch who steals shadows. A forest ruled by the evil Changemaker. A forest so dangerous that people who enter never return. No. Samuel Blink doesn't know any of this. So don't tell him. It might ruin the book...

Best Book With Facts Winner: Horrible Geography Handbooks: Planet in Peril - by Anita Ganeri,

From climate change to carbon footprints, this guide on environmental issues offers oodles of ideas of things readers can do to help to save the planet. This is the next title in the colour "Horrible Geography Handbooks" series. From climate... More

Best Book With Facts Winner Other Finalists

Archaeology Detectives - by Simon Adams (Oxford University Press)

How do we know what ancient Athens was like or how the Aztecs lived? This question is fully answered by Archaeology Detectives, which tells the story of how archaeologists in the past two hundred years have gradually deciphered some of the world's... More

100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet- by Anna Claybourne (A&C Black)

In this exciting book, children learn how to face and survive the world's most dangerous situations. From natural disasters and wild weather, to getting lost in the wild and fighting off dangerous animals, readers learn the skills needed to... More

Book I Couldn't Put DownWinner: Shadow Forest - by Matt Haig (Corgi)

Winner - Shadow Forest - by Matt Haig (Corgi)Samuel Blink is the hero of this story, but he doesn't know it yet. Rightnow, he and his sister Martha are in the back of his parents car. He has no idea a giant log is about to fall from the sky and change his life forever. He doesn't know that he and Martha will be forced to move to Norway and eat their Aunt Eda's smelly brown cheese. He hasn't the slightest clue Martha will disappear into Shadow Forest. A forest full of one-eyed trolls, the sinister huldre-folk, deadly Truth Pixies and a witch who steals shadows. A forest ruled by the evil Changemaker. A forest so dangerous that people who enter never return. No. Samuel Blink doesn't know any of this. So don't tell him. It might ruin the book.

Finalists

Abela: The Girl Who Saw Lions

"Be strong, my Abela." These are the last words of Abela's mother in their HIV/Aids stricken African village, where itseems that to live or to die, to be sick or to be healthy, is just a matter of chance. It takes all Abela's strength to survive her Uncle Thomas' scheming to get to Europe, but what will be her fate as an illegal immigrant? More

Foul Play (Football Detective)- by Tom Palmer (Puffin)

Danny is obsessed with two things: football, and investigating crimes. So when England and City footballing hero SamRoberts is reported missing the day after Danny saw him being taken, blindfolded, into the bowels of the City FC stadium late at... More

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Most Fun Story with Pictures: Winner: Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - by Andy Stanton, illustrated by David Tazzyman (Egmont)

Do you like bears called Padlock? Do you like hot-air balloons? Do you like tall sailing ships with mad sea captains, and horrifying old villains and words like 'wab!', 'tungler' and 'kelp'? This book's got all of those things - and a lot more... More

Fleabag - by Helen Stephens (Alison Green Books)

There was once a dog who had no name. What he did have was fleas, but they weren't much company. The dog longsfor a family. At last he sees one that looks just right - with a brother and sister to play with him. But they shoo him away. It's not till the little boy runs away from home, that he can finally win his way into their hearts - and home. More

Lost! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog - by Jeremy Strong (Puffin Books)

Streaker the dog is lost. And not just a bit lost, but really lost! It wasn't even her fault! She wanted to protect some pies from the pie robber and suddenly she's miles from home and two-legged Trevor and she has to make friends with a cat. More

The 2007 Blue Peter Book of the Year wasThe Outlaw Varjak Paw by S. F. Said illustrated by Dave McKean. The book also won The Book I Couldn't Put Down Category

The other 2007 winners Most Fun Story With Pictures :You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum!by Andy Stanton and David Tazzyman: Best Book with Facts:The Worst Children's Jobs in History by Tony Robinson.

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2007

* Book of the Year: The Outlaw Varjak Paw by S. F. Said , illustrated by Dave McKean

Having saved the city cats from a fate worse than death, Varjak Paw finds himself the elected and popular leader of anew gang - a gang that supports freedom and kindness for all. But will the pressure take its toll on this brave, yet sometimes... More

o Most Fun Story With Pictures: You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum!by Andy Stanton and David Tazzyman

Mr Gum is a complete horror who hates children, animals, fun and corn on the cob. This book is about him, an angry fairy who lives in his bathtub, Jake the dog (who must be saved from terrible, terrible evil), a little girl called Polly and an... More

o Best Book with Facts: The Worst Children's Jobs in History by Tony Robinson

"The Worst Children's Jobs in History" takes you back to the days when being a kid was no excuse for getting out of hard labor. This book tells the stories of all the children whose work fed the nation, kept trains running, and put clothes on... More

Book I Couldn't Put Down The Outlaw Varjak Paw by S. F. Said, illustrated by Dave McKean

Having saved the city cats from a fate worse than death, Varjak Paw finds himself the elected and popular leader of anew gang - a gang that supports freedom and kindness for all. But will the pressure take its toll on this brave, yet sometimes... More

2007 Shortlist

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Most Fun Story with Pictures:
o Melrose and Croc: Together at Christmas (Melrose & Croc) by Emma Chichester Clark
o Charlie Cook's Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
oYou're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum!! by Andy Stanton and David Tazzyman
*Best Book with Facts:
o Why Is Snot Green?: The Science Museum Question and Answer Book (Science Museum Q & a Book) by Glenn Murphy
o The Worst Children's Jobs in Historyin History by Tony Robinson
o A Little Guide to Wild Flowers by Charlotte VoakeThe Book I Couldn't Put Down:
o Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
o The Bad Spy's Guide by Pete Johnson
o The Outlaw Varjak Pawby S. F. Said, illustrated by Dave McKean

* Book of the Year: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
o Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud:Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
o Best Book with Facts: Spud Goes Green by Giles Thaxton (Egmont)
o Book I Couldn't Put Down: Blood Fever (Young Bond S.) by Charlie Higson (Puffin)

2005

* Book of the Year: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (right) (Collins)
o Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud: The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Macmillan)
o Best Book with Facts: Explorers Wanted!: At the North Pole (Explorers Wanted) by Simon Chapman (Egmont)
o Book I Couldn't Put Down:Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (Collins)

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2004

* Book of the Year: Man on the Moon by Simon Bartram (Templar)
o Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud: Man on the Moon by Simon Bartram (Templar)
o Best Book with Facts: The Ultimate Book Guide edited by Daniel Hahn (A and C Black)
o Book I Couldn't Put Down: Montmorency by Eleanor Updale (Scholastic)

2003

* Book of the Year: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (Scholastic)
o Best Book to Read Aloud: Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Macmillan)
o Best Book with Facts: Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake Carpenter by Richard Platt, illustrated by Chris Riddell (Walker)
o Book I Couldn't Put Down: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (Scholastic)

Robert is a boy who can do anything - or so old Edith Sorrel at the nursing home tells him. Robert doesn't think so, knowing as he does that he is the school geek. Niker, the bully, challenges Robert to spend the night at old Chance House with him - but who will prove to really be the strongest? More

o Best Book to Read Aloud: Crispin the Pig Who Had It All by Ted Dewan (Random House)
o Best New Information Book: Ada Lovelace: The Computer Wizard of Victorian England (Who Was...?) by Lucy Lethridge
o Book I Couldn't Put Down: Feather Boy by Nicky Singer (Collins)
* Voter's Awards:
o Best Storybook: The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson (Yearling)
o Best Book With Facts In: The Terrible Tudors by Terry Deary, illustrated by Martin Brown (Scholastic)

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2001

* Book of the Year: The Wind Singer Wind on Fire Trilogy) by William Nicholson (Egmont)

Kestrel can't stand the structure and rules of Aramanth. In defiance, she climbs the wooden tower known as the wind singer and brings the wrath of the Chief Examiner on her family. Her beloved father is taken, and only Kestrel and her twin brother Bowman can save him... and themselves. More

o Best Book to Read Aloud: The Bravest Ever Bear by Allan Ahlberg and Paul Howard (Walker)
o Book I Couldn't Put Down: The Wind Singer (Wind on Fire Trilogy) by William Nicholson (Egmont)
o Best Book to Keep Forever: The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean (Oxford University Press)
* Voters' Awards:
o Best Storybook: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Book 1) by J. K. Rowling (Bloomsbury)
o Best Book of Knowledge: The Rotten Romans (Horrible Histories) (Horrible Histories) (Horrible Histories) by Terry Deary (Scholastic)

* Book of the Year: A Pilgrim's Progress (Classic Stories) retold by Geraldine McCaughrean below left), illustrated by Jason Cockcroft (Hodder)
o Special Book to Keep Forever: A Pilgrim's Progress (Classic Stories) retold by Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft (Hodder)
o Book I Couldn't Put Down: Shadow of the Minotaur (Legendeer Trilogy Series) by Alan Gibbons (Orion)
o Best Book to Read Aloud: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Macmillan)
* Voters' Awards:
o Best Book With Facts In It: Guinness World Records 2000 (Guinness)
o Book that Made Me Laugh the Loudest: Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake (Puffin)
o Best Book to Share: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) by J. K. Rowling (Bloomsbury)

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